Improvement in corn-shellers



T. 1. HDOVER.

Corn-Sheller.

No.\60,93 I Paremdreb.. 23,1875.

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOT0.LITH.39&41 PARK PLAGEJLY- UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIOE,

THOMAS J. HOOVER, OF WOODBURY, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-SHELLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,193, dated February 23, 1875; application filed January 23, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. HOOVER, of Woodbury, in the county of Gannon and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand Corn- Sheller, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object to furnish an improved hand corn-Sheller, which possesses the requisites of shelling various kinds of corn in a simple and perfect manner.

The invention, consists, first, in a shelling-surface for hard or matured corn, consisting of a double series of oblique ribs, extending in opposite directions, which ribs are arranged in such relation to each other that their adjacent ends do not meet, thus forming a central escape-channel or open space, which will prevent the shelled corn from lodging in rear of the ribs. The invention further consists in the combination of straight ribs with obliquely-arranged ribs located in the spaces between said straight ribs; a surface so formed being specially adapted for shelling moist or partially-dried corn.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a plan View of a corn-sheller constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the same on the line .'10 wot Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the corn-Sheller.

A designates the frame of the sheller, which is composed of two side bars and a top connecting-bar of wood or metal, but made preferably of the former material. The shelling board or plate B is generally constructed ot' castmetal, and it is attached tothe frame A by means of screws, bolts, or other fastening pass down the inclined portion of the ribs, readily conducting the corn to the center.

The shelling-ribs D are specially adapted for acting upon hard or matured corn, the inclined position of the ribs serving to strip the ear drawn over the same in a perfect and simple manner, and this Without the necessity of holding the ear of corn very forcibly against the ribs.

The portion F of the shelling-board not covered with the inclined ribs for hard corn is made perfectly fiat, and it is covered with straight or horizontal ribs G, the inner ends of which join the inner series of the oblique ribs D. In the spaces between the ribs G are located oblique ribs H, which are arranged at a lesser angle than the ribs D, so as to leave a larger space between the adjacent ends ofthe same.

The surface composed of the straight and inclined ribs is specially adapted for moist or partially-dried corn, the inclined ribs, in this instance, serving to retain the ear of corn in the center as it is drawn over the board, and acled upon both by the straight and inclined r1 s.

The portion F of the shelling-board is either made closed or solid; or it may be provided with openings H', for permitting escape or passage of the corn through the same. The shelling board or plate B is also formed with lateral flanges I, against which the outer ends of the shelling-ribs abut, so as to leave no projecting ends or corners liable to injure the hands ot' the person performing the shelling operation.

The combination of the two sh elling-surfaces, and the general combination of the.diii'erent devices above described, tend to make up a most desirable hand corn-Sheller, which is eminently serviceable for shelling different kinds of corn.

As a modification of the invention, it is proposed to construct the shelling-board in two or more sections, and to connect the same in such a manner that each section is independent of the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, s-

l. In a hand corn-Sheller, the combination of the board or plate A and the oblique shelling-ribs D, having their adjacent ends terminating at a sufficient distance from each other to form an escape space or channel for the corn lodged in rear of the ribs, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. In a hand corn-Sheller, the combination of the plate or board A, the oblique ribs H, and the straight ribs Gr, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The hand corn-sheller herein described,

comprising the frame A, the board or plate B, having lateral flanges I, the double series of oblique ribs D, the straight ribs G, andfthe oblique ribs H, all constructed and relatively arranged substantially as herein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS J. HOOVER. Witnesses:

JAMES L. NoRRIs, J. E. K. ALEXANDER. 

